using PC as an oscilloscope

[Special K]

Would it be possible to use a standard PC as an oscilloscope, at least in theory? Would you just need to find a way to connect the probe to the PC, and then write some software to function as a scope? Could the probe connector be connected to some type of adapter that would output the signal through something that could be used by a PC, such as a serial port?

 

[Fencer128]

I know that you can buy PCI cards that together with drivers act as oscillosocpes (I have one). They are expensive (£1000+) and from my experience don't work nearly as well as a stand alone unit.

Cheers,

Andy

 

[CTho9305]

You'd also want to make sure that whatever home-grown connection you make has very high input resistance, unless you want to mess up whatever you are trying to measure.

 

[sgtroyer]

The cheap way to do this on your own is using your sound card. A sound card has an analog input port, which can serve as an oscilloscope, and an analog output, which can serve as a function generator. If you have sound recording/editing software like soundforge, you can stare at the waveforms. If you have matlab, it's even better: it'll pull the data in and let you graph it or do operations on it.

It's a far cry from a real scope, but it's sufficient for some things. Note that the bandwidth is pretty small, nothing over 20kHz.

You can't use the serial port because it's digital. Ditto for the parallel port.

 

[f95toli]

There are plenty of PCI-cards that you can use as oscilloscopes. They vary in price but you can buy there relatively cheap DAQ-cards that work well. Try www.ni.com

 

[borealiss]

most oscopes that i work with are dsp oscopes that are based on some sort of embedded windows. others like tektronix TLA's and such are actual pc's with the dsp circuitry on a special board.

 

[ScottMac]

There are a number of external modules that connect to the PC via USB as well. Nuts & Volts magazine advertises a few (maybe their website too), Circuit Cellar (magazine/website) does too. Cheap, compared to the cost of a similar 'scope.

FWIW

Scott

 

[arcas]

Many years ago, folks created an "oscilloscope" using a Commodore-128. Joystick ports back in those days were analog which made it possible. It was very slow but it worked in principle.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

look for winscope

 

[Blade Runner]

Heck, Use a gameboy..

Gameboy O scope

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: SpecialK
Would it be possible to use a standard PC as an oscilloscope, at least in theory? Would you just need to find a way to connect the probe to the PC, and then write some software to function as a scope? Could the probe connector be connected to some type of adapter that would output the signal through something that could be used by a PC, such as a serial port?

A PC can definatley be used as a oscilloscope. You can go low cost or big bucks.

Use the line in of your sound cards for the low cost solution and get a dedicated DAQ card for the big bucks solution.
There is shareware out there that lets you use the sound card.